2015 Tour starts with 13km TT

[barmaher]

Anybody know of any other rumours for next year's Tour.

It looks like Stage 2 is indeed going to be a stage finishing on a man-made island in Zeeland. Then rumours of it going through Belgium (Liége?) on the third day and arriving in France near Lens on Day 4. I am guessing that there is going to be a couple of stages getting across Normandy, as the rumours are that three will be 2 stage in Brittany that weekend.

It seems like the first rest day will see a transfer down to the Pyrenees. Then maybe just two days in the Pyrenees in view of what is to come.

There have been some stong rumours of a stage around the Gorge in the Ardeche, as well as a Nice-Pra Loup stage to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the famous duel in 1975. And I think we can expect L'Alpe d'Huez and at least one more classic Alpe stages, as well as maybe some additional time before that in the Southern Alpes.

If they are going to go from Nice to Macon by road, there could be a heavy final week. The Macon rumour is for a time trial to La Clayette, which is 55km approximately.

Has anybody else heard more rumours?

To me, it sounds like it will be a very light first week, and a very lumpy last 12 stages.

 

[maxmartin]

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news...de-france-opens-with-a-13-7km-time-trial.html

Similar start to 2009 then and I'm sure Tony Martin will enjoy his first Yellow Jersey.

Nah, Taylor wears yellow

 

[Netserk]

From the 21 HC climbs 2.0 thread, Col des Champs is rumoured which would match with Pra Loup.

 

[Broth3r]

This is great news. It means the first maillot jaune will probably be someone who'll defend it valiantly.

 

[arvc40]

So will Nibali be ahead of Froome and Contador after this TT. I say no.

 

[SafeBet]

So will Nibali be ahead of Froome and Contador after this TT. I say no.

May we have one topic where we don't discuss the same issue over and over again?

 

[Midrider]

I'm putting my money on Tom Dumoulin for this prologue. A bit shorter than the Belgium Tour TT this year in which only the Panzerwagen managed to beat him. Add to that another year of progress and the home field advantage, I think he has a good shot.

 

[Pricey_sky]

I'm putting my money on Tom Dumoulin for this prologue. A bit shorter than the Belgium Tour TT this year in which only the Panzerwagen managed to beat him. Add to that another year of progress and the home field advantage, I think he has a good shot.

it's not a prologue is it? I thought they had to be a much shorter distance. I cant see anyone other than Panzer for this.

 

[Jspear]

it's not a prologue is it? I thought they had to be a much shorter distance. I cant see anyone other than Panzer for this.

Yes, your right a prologue has to be shorter....I believe they have to be under 10 K. This stage is considered a TT.
I'm not predicting anyone for this stage. Anything can happen to a rider before then...I'll wait.

 

[SafeBet]

Yes, your right a prologue has to be shorter....I believe they have to be under 10 K. This stage is considered a TT.
I'm not predicting anyone for this stage. Anything can happen to a rider before then...I'll wait.

Under 8 if I'm not mistaken.

 

[barmaher]

Apart from cobbles (won't be repeated so soon) and wind (obviously unreliable) are there any difficulties with which they can present the riders on the trek from Nord to Normandy to Brittany?

Because if not, it will be a dull enough first week.

 

[Netserk]

Apart from cobbles (won't be repeated so soon) and wind (obviously unreliable) are there any difficulties with which they can present the riders on the trek from Nord to Normandy to Brittany?

Because if not, it will be a dull enough first week.

 

[luckyboy]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-shorts-lalpe-dhuez-back-in-2015-nibalis-big-bonus

The official route of the 2015 Tour de France will only be revealed in late October but several details have already emerged via the media.

The race starts in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, with a 13,7km time trial and then heads to the province of Zeeland, through the city center of Rotterdam where the Grand Départ took place in 2010, finishing on Neeltje Jans, an artificial island amidst giant dams.

On July 6 the second stage starts in Antwerp, Belgium but little is known of the rest of the route.

Hwoever Le Telegramme newspaper has claimed that there will be stages in Brittany in 2015. A time trial is expected to start in Avranches and finish in Fougères. Another stage will start in Dinan and finish in either Plouay or Plumelec, with a third stage starting in Quimper.

According to the several media sources, the legendary mountain finish at L'Alpe d’Huez will also be part of the Tour de France next in 2015. In a route that will run anti-clockwise, the Pyrenees will be tackled first, followed by the Alpes. In 2013 Ag2r-La Mondiale’s Christophe Riblon won the stage on the iconic mountain finish.

So two time trials in the first week. Sounds amazing.
And again visiting Brittany but going nowhere near the ribinoù pfft

 

[Netserk]

Very nice so far (except Alpe).

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

If the Panzerwagen isn't in yellow after this stage it will be quite a surprise won;t it.

It's in the Netherlands. Tom Dumoulin is getting closer and closer to Tony. And next year, he will strike.

Nice to have a Dutchman in yellow next year.

Go Tom

 

[Netserk]

It's in the Netherlands. Tom Dumoulin is getting closer and closer to Tony. And next year, he will strike.

Nice to have a Dutchman in yellow next year.

Go Tom

Meh, will probably have a TT like Tony had in Liège

 

[Jan the Man]

Would be good to see the Joux-Plane back the last time it was used was in 2006.

I would also like them to use some of the other Alpine climbs such as the Col de Allos (last used I think in 2000) or the Col du Granon rather than repeat such stages as Alpe d'Huez and Galibier.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

How about the Isolo 2000? Puy de Dôme?

I'm also hoping for more overall TT distances and stages next year.

 

[luckyboy]

An opening day TT + one in Brittany surely means one towards the end of the Tour too?

They can't possibly put three ITTs in right? MTT?

 

[barmaher]

There is a rumours ITT in last few days: 50km plus. Maybe not so likely now

 

[SafeBet]

An opening day TT + one in Brittany surely means one towards the end of the Tour too?

They can't possibly put three ITTs in right? MTT?

Why not? It's about time we get back to the 100km of TTs we were used to. You only need tons of climbs to balance it out.

Imagine Quintana and Berto having to overcome a 4-6 minutes gap to Froome in the mountains.

 

[Swifty's Cakes]

Would be good to see the Joux-Plane back the last time it was used was in 2006.

I would also like them to use some of the other Alpine climbs such as the Col de Allos (last used I think in 2000) or the Col du Granon rather than repeat such stages as Alpe d'Huez and Galibier.

I did Granon last month. I doubt they could ever go back there in the tour, not enough room for all the vehicles at the summit so they couldn't finish the stage there and the road going down the other side is not suitable either.

 

[Frosty]

Been rumours before about the Spandelles climb, near the Aubisque, being included in a tour at some point. Went up this about 13 years ago and it was certainly a tough one, apparently it has been given a much needed resurfacing?

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?Col=Col-de-Spandelles&qryMountainID=6440

 

[Netserk]

An opening day TT + one in Brittany surely means one towards the end of the Tour too?

They can't possibly put three ITTs in right? MTT?

What's wrong with three ITTs? They had that in 2012.

...

As for Alpes, I'm quite sure we'll see Allos again.

 

[djpbaltimore]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-shorts-lalpe-dhuez-back-in-2015-nibalis-big-bonus




So two time trials in the first week. Sounds amazing.
And again visiting Brittany but going nowhere near the ribinoù pfft

Is there any indication that the second one might be a TTT? I would like to see that return to the TDF every once in a while at least.